The Tablet reported this week that Stella Maris H.S. in Rockawaywill close in June, 2010. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwoodhave been administrating the school since the 1940's but now findit impossible to run with the declining enrollment. The girls schoolhas only a little over 200 students, and less than 50 freshman.

For the record, these are the remaining Catholic HighSchools in Queens:Co-Ed: St. John's Prep; St. Francis Prep; Christ the King; Archbishop MolloyBoys: Mons. McClancy; Holy CrossGirls: The Mary Louis Academy; St. AgnesSAMMY67

Thanks, Jim, for the sad news there about Stella Maris and the status of the other schools. LSA is also in difficult straits. Loughlin has had a 10% loss from 6/08. The economy is killing Catholic/private education.

Back in our day the Sisters at Stella Maris generously made beach parking available to Brothers and Priests down for the day at the Beach. Eventually they had to resort to passes for the windshield that were picked up at the door. I always marvelled at how the Sisters would sit on the upstairs veranda in 'full gear' even on the hottest of days. The midday Angelus bell had the miraculous effect of having most 'beachers' stand, face the school and recite it as the bells tolled. The passing of an era here.

Andrea,There may be other causes like demographics - Catholic neighborhoods disappearing, parishes shrinking - and the major one is obviously COST. Loughlin is one of the cheapest of the Catholic HS at over $7,000 with fees. Some private schools are in the $30,000 per year range. Working class families can't afford this luxury. Today's economic conditions with scary job security and ever increasing college costs add to the reluctance to commit to Cathiolic HS education.

I believe that the cost is the biggest obstacle. My 9 year old is attending a Catholic school in Bayside and tuition is $4,000 per year plus uniform, etc. It goes up each year and will be, I assume, well over $10,000 by the time she can start h.s. in 2014! College tuition is even more frightening.

I recall our almost minimal tuition in both grammar and high school. Those days are long gone along with the increasing costs of school overhead. Salaries have not kept pace with other non-private/Catholic schools.

Costs are going up because the schools don't have the religious educators that they had in the past. They worked for nothing or for practically nothing back then.

My daughter's education cost me 90k, 6-12 grades, a private school. It's 20K per year at Beloit College and that's cause she's on about a 55% scholarship!

Demographics, I think, has little to do with school closings. I think schools are closing for the same reasons that the pews aren't full. Otherwise, why aren't Catholic Schools opening up on Long Island?

__________________Terrence P. Tuffy

Be steady in your convictions, and be a person of your word.
Book of Sirach 5:10

Originally Posted by AndreaI had no idea that so few schools were left in Queens.

I'm wondering if this has more to it than just the economy.

I think a the greatest part of the costs increase is due to the lack of brothers and nuns.Back in the old days, religious teachers were the norm and lay teachers the exception. Today that is reversed. Where the parishes used to have to provide BARELY room and board for most of their teachers, now real salaries are required.

Terry & John,Most Sisters and Bros today receive market value salaries - school pay scale. My salary goes to CBC Narragansett and they send back to my Community a monthly check for living expenses. Workers salaries cover those who can't. This would be the same for most nuns. Back in the old days we were on a stipend system - Food, Shelter and Clothing - were supplied by the Community - which received a stipend from the Diocese or Parish for each teacher. As small as the Br/Sr allotments were, the Lay Faculty were forced to work 2-3 side jobs to make ends meet. Hence unionization, comparable NYC payscale, etc. in the years following yours at MC.

I checked with my mom ... and my tuition in grammar school (St. Stans / Maspeth) was completely free until 8th grade - when they instituted a $10 monthly tuition "for those who could afford it." Mater Christi was considered one of the more inexpensive Catholic high schools during my freshman year ('69/70); but the tuition nearly doubled during either my sophomore or junior year. My parents talked about pulling me out and sending me to public schools -- but the unrest of the times (a teacher was stabbed that year in our local public HS) kept me at MC. Instead, Mom went back to work for the first time since she married.So ... (short story long) ... I believe a great deal has to do with the economy. For those parents who are trying to put money away for college, spending it on elementary and high school doesn't seem feasible. For those who don't have the money to save, it's a no-brainer.Sadly, I believe money is the primary cause. Many non-Catholics attend Catholic schools because they believe in the education and the structure.

For those parents who are trying to put money away for college, spending it on elementary and high school doesn't seem feasible.

My wife and I looked at it that way too. But, knowing our daughter was going to be an academic we wanted her to have the best shot at getting a scholarship by preparing her the best we could for college. Luckily, it worked out. Only thing now, our biology major is looking into medical school. (ouch!!!) It's only money.

Lynda, guess you don't get to the board much. I just received this today.

The private message sent to Lynda73 on 05/14/06 at 06:37 AM has been read. The subject of the message was 'Fill in the Blank'.

__________________Terrence P. Tuffy

Be steady in your convictions, and be a person of your word.
Book of Sirach 5:10

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